Safety pull rod coupling



L. .LV-M'GKINNEY Er M SAFETY PULL ROD coulLING March 7, 19394.

Filed June 1l; 1936 WENTORS. Zan/rence .7 c/mney Bhr/'677cm W. Jnsen ATTORNEYS March 7, 1939. .l McKlNNl-:Y E r m. 2,149,855

SAFETY PULL ROD COUPLING 4 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1956 INVENTORS.

,Lm/renfe TMIM e? Chr/'.s/'an W J2e .s f7 en gig@ a o l .ATTORNEYS L. J.- McKlNNEY rr AL SAFETY PULL ROD COUPLING March 7, 1939.

vFiled June ll, 1936 4 Sl'lee'lS-SheelI 3 ENfroRs. /rmey nsen M ATTORNY Mah 7, 1939- J. MCKINNEY x-:r`AL

v SAFETY PULL ROD oUPLING Filed June 11, 1936 4 Sheets-$16914 Patented Mar. 7, 14939 UNITED STATS SAFETY PULL ROD' COUPLING Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,604

8 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus of the type employed in connection with oil wells and the like and pertains more particularly to a safety device for interposition between a power mechanism and a pumping apparatus, so that a plurality of pumping devices may be operated by a single power mechanism, in such a manner that a single pumping apparatus may be disconnected from and connected with a power mechanism, with perfect safety during operation of the latter.

I'he primary object of the present invention is to provide means which may be operated in comparative safety for the purpose of connecting or disconnecting a power driven reciprocating pull rod or the like and a pull rod or member which is connected to a pump. To this end the operation may be accomplished byY an operator without handling the power transmitting members, to minimize the probability of `an accident.

Another object is to provide a novel safety stop for limiting the amount of movement which can take place by the driven pull rod when a break occurs between the power supply and the pumping device.

A further object is to provide a means for permitting proper adjustment between the power supply source and the pumping apparatus to eliminate frictional losses which would result from misalignment of the power supply and the pumping apparatus as when the power house is upon a hill and the pumping apparatus at a Vlower elevation. Further, the device provides a means for counteracting thrusts or side motion strains of the power pull rod by adjustabe anchor rods between the power house and the safety device, and between the safety device and the terrain on the pump side.

' A further object is to provide means of a character referred to above having anchoring means permitting ease of installation, and which facilitates the removal of the device from one location to another.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of an installation which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed View showing mechanism for coupling and uncoupling the power line.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing Aanother position of the parts.

Fig. 4 isa side elevation of one of the coupling elements. Y

(Cl. 'f4-593) Fig. 5 is a plan view of the coupling element shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the parts in still another position.

Fig. 8 isa section taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the same parts in another position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the structure.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line H-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line |2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line l3--I3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective of the device.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 16 is a view taken on line IS--l of Fig. 15.

In Fig. 1 the source of power (not shown) transmits power by the drive means 2 to the power dispenser 3, which in revolving transmits the imparted energy to a common revolving eccentric 4, to which may be joined a number of reciprocable power lines or pull rods, such as shown at 5, for hooking on to a number of pumping devices all of which is common practice in the oil industry.

The rod 5, for delivering the said power in substantially a straight line motion, has an eye l formed on the end thereof detachably receiving a hook l. The hook 'l is pivotally connected at 8 to the carrying members 9, as best shown in Fig. 4, which carry a control member li) slid- `aby supported by the guide member H which is attached to the coupling members by the fastening means I2. The member i!) has a stop at each end, as at i3 and 13a, adapted to engage the ends of the guide member l! to restrict sliding movement thereof.

As shown in Fig. 2, a movable blocking plate I6 has a slot l1 formed in one end, the plate being mounted to slide in the track pieces la secured tothe adjustable height legs I9, which have right angle bends at the bottom to form supporting feet. On the face of the slide member IG and pivotallyattached at 2l! thereto is a release member M having an inclined or cam face 48. A link 24 is pivotally and slidably mounted on plate I6 as at 25. 'I'his link is pivotally connected to a control lever 29 as at 27,

which lever is in turn pivotally mounted on the frame at S.

Referring to Fig. 10, the V-bent anchoring rod 34, threaded at both ends, is` adjustably joined to the loop members 35 that are welded to the track members IS. Pivotally connected at the midpoint of the anchor member 34 by a loop formed on one end of the rod is a rod member 36 having a threaded portion Von the opposite end and adjustably fastened to the cross member 31, positioned near the base of the device. From the apex of the tripod thus formed, and connected to the apex by an eye piece formed on one end, is the anchoring member 33, the free end of which extends preferably back to the power source to be anchored in the concrete base of thepower house. On the pumping apparatus side of the device is secured a second V-bent anchoring member 39 having two threaded ends, one end being adjustably fastened to the same cross member 31 at its mid-point, the other end beingY operably connected to a second cross member @EL 'At the midpoint of the V-bent member 39 is a pivotally connected anchor rod II having its free end anchored in the ground.

Referring again to Figs. 10,?11 and 12, will be seen a power pull rod guide support and safety stop member 42. The said plate is supported by the threaded members 'S3 through integral brackets M, and a cross member 0, to track members I8, as shown in Fig. 13. An opening located in the side of the plate d2 and a slot 41 provides access to a bearing member 46 positioned substantially near the center of the plate I2 for threading the power pull rod through the plate.

In installation the coupling 9 is joined with the power line or rod 5a, and the hook I to the coupling eye I on the powered pull-rod 5, at a point in the power line about 2) feet from the power house. The frame and blocking apparatus is then placed adjacent to said cooperating coupling members 9 and I, as in Fig. 15, such that the blocking plate I 6 is at about the mid-point of reciprocation of the power line, as in Fig.v16. The

adjustable length legs I9 of the frame will take care of any height connection from the power take-off. The adjustment of the guy rods 34, 36 and 39 guying the frame of the terrain allowing adjustment of the vertical axis of the frame to set the frame perpendicular to the line of Vtravel of the power line, and the horizontal axis normal to the line of travel of the power line, when the conditions of installation require placing the apparatus upon a hill, in a depression, or uponan ineline. Similarly the plate I2 may be adjusted by loosening the nut members on each side of the plate and moving the plate to ilt the angle of reciprocation of the power line.

In operation, when it is desired to uncouple the powered pull rod 5 from the coupling memberfl to hang-up the pumping apparatus, the opera-V tor grasps the control lever 29 and moves it in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, sliding the blocking plate I6 and attached parts to the position as viewed in Fig. 3, at a time when the coupling 9 is in the right hand position 9a, as viewed in Fig. 16. The power line will continue to move forward in normal travel until the coupling member butts against the blocking plate, that has been moved across the line of travel of the power pull rod 5, as in Fig. 6. As the coupling S approaches the blocking plate, the control member I@ and stop I3 forces the pivot member III to the left as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6, against the blocking plate I6, collapsing the spring in its socket 49 as in Figs. 8 and 9. The arcuate shape of the right hand side of the pivot member I4 as viewed in Fig. 2 or 3 is to allow for a certain amount of circular movement of the pull rod 5 in normal reciprocation and still provide positive contact for the control member I0. The purpose of the spring Ell is to hold the pivot member I4 away from the blocking plate IB in normal operation as in Fig. 3. The normal position of the pivot member renders the link member 2li inoperative after the finger 2i formed on the end of member 24, contacts the upper side of the pivot member Il. If the spring 5@ was not in the apparatus the pivot member I4 might be locked in theout position before the tension was removed from the'power line, and the control member IU K on butting against the pivot member I d would bend it and cause Vserious damage to the link 24 and control lever 29. After the control member Ill has collapsed the pivot member, and the tension in the power line is' relieved by the coupling S abutting the blocking plate, the link 2d is free to be moved clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 to engage the inclined plane or cam face d8 of the pivot I4. By further counter-clockwise movement of the control lever 29, the pivot member M is moved clockwise as in Fig. 9, moving the control member I@ from the left to right engaging the nose I5 by the stopV i3d and forcing the hook 'I up out of union with the power line, as viewed in Fig. 7.

VThe hook is now held in this suspended position by locking the control lever in the in position by a pin through the hole 33 of the T-arm member 32. If the operatorl inadvertently attempts to actuate the control lever when the coupling is in some other position than that stated, the cross-dimensions of the slot, being smaller than the hook 1, will not engage the hook I to be rendered operative as a blocking member.

To couple the eye I of the powered rod 5 with the hook I, the operator merely waits until the coupling eye I is in the position of furthest forward travel and. is just beginning the reciprocation from left to right as viewed inv Fig. 16. The control lever is then moved clockwisev as viewed in Fig. 2, the link 24 and finger 2|, in turn being moved away from the cam face 48, and the hook 'I moving clockwise, as viewed in Fig. '7, through the action of gravity. The member I4 is now free to be pivotedtowards the plate member I6 collapsing the weak spring 50. The power will then pull the cooperating coupling members away from the plate I6, the spring 50 will expand to its normal length, and the blocking member may be returned to its normal position through further clockwise movement of the control lever as viewed in Fig. 2, allowing the power line to reciprocate in normal operation. DueY to the shape of the hook 'I the eye I will form an operative coupling therewith only when moving in a direction from left to right as viewed in Fig. 16. Further the operator is prevented from removing the plate I6 from a blocking position when the power line is uncoupled by the inherent weight of the pumping apparatus. Again, even if the operator should succeed in moving the plate from a blocking position, the coupling would only move a distance from the blocking plate to the safety stop plate d2 when it would be restrained there, as in Fig. 16.

In the foregoing description and following claims, the term power line is used to define the combined and connected reciprocating rods or cables 5 and 5a, along with the necessary couplings connecting the same.

In other words,

it is the line between the pump and the power source.

We claim:

1. A coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line located between a power source and the pump of an oil well or the like comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line arranged to be connected and disconnected, abutment means on the line positioned on the side of the coupling members nearest the pump, a stationary frame', a blocking member mounted in said frame and arranged to be shifted into the path of the abutment for taking the load of the pump and relieving the tension on the coupling members, means for shifting the blocking member into blocking position, means for actuating one of the coupling members when the tension is relieved for shifting one of said coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member, and means for blocking said actuating means from uncoupling said members when the latter are under tension.

2. A coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line for the pump of an oil well or the like comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line between a power source and pumping apparatus arranged to be connected and disconnected, abutment means on the line on the side of the coupling members nearest the pumping apparatus, a stationary frame, a blocking member slidable in said frame arranged to be shifted into the path of the abutment for taking the load of the pumping apparatus and relieving the tension on the coupling members, a manually operated lever and intermediate slotted linkage connected thereto to permit lost motion with respect to said lever and for shifting the blocking member into blocking position, and a pivoted cooperating member arranged to be shifted by said manually operated lever and adapted to actuate one of the coupling members when the tension is relieved for shifting one of said coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member, said slotted linkage and lost motion between said linkage and said lever permitting release and control of one of said coupling members when said coupling member is brought into coupling relation with the other coupling member prior to the shifting of said blocking member from blocking position.

3. A coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line for the pump of an oil well or the like comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line between a power source and a pumping apparatus arranged tobe connected and disconnected, abutment means on the line on the side of the coupling members nearest the pumping apparatus, a frame with slide members placed adjacent to said abutment means, a blocking plate slidable in said frame arranged to be moved into the path of the abutment for taking the load of the pumping apparatus and relieving the tension on the coupling members, manually operable means for shifting the blocking plate into blocking position, and means operably connected to said manually operable means for actuating one of the coupling members when the tension is relieved for-shifting one of said coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member.

4. A coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line for the pump of an oil well or the like comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line between a' power source and a pumping apparatus arranged to be connected and disconnected, abutment means on the line on the side of the coupling member nearest the pumping apparatus, a stationary frame, a blocking member slidable in said frame and arrangedto be shifted into the path of the abutment for taking the load of the pumping apparatus and relieving the tension on the coupling members, means for shifting the blocking member into blocking position, means for actuating one of the coupling members when the tension is relieved for shifting one of said coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member whereby the shifting operation of the blocking member is accomplished in two steps, rst to a blocking position, an interruption until the said tension is relieved and the second step of shifting one of the coupling members out of coupling relation with the Vother coupling member, and means for blocking said actuating means to prevent the shifting of one of the coupling members from coupling relation until said tension is relieved.

5. A coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line for the pump of an oil well or the like comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line arranged to be connected and disconnected, abutment means on the line, a stationary frame, a blocking member in said frame arranged to be shifted into the path of the abutment for taking the load of the pumping apparatus and relieving the tension on the coupling members, a manually7 operated lever and intermediate slotted linkage for shifting the blocking member into blocking position, and a pivoted cooperating member for actuating one of the coupling members when the tension is relieved for shifting one of said coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member, the pivoted cooperation member having an arcuate shape of that portion engaging one of the coupling members to provide positive contact with said member in event of a circular movement during the reciprocation of the power line.

6. In a mechanism of the type described, safety coupling means in a reciprocating power line comprising a hook .member and an eye member, an abutment on the hook side of said line, the said hook being pivoted to said abutment, a stationary supporting device, a manually operable blocking means movable in said supporting device into the path of said abutment for taking the load on the hook side of the line and relieving the tension on the coupling members, means manually operable, only when said tension is relieved, to pivot the hook from its position of engagement with the eye member, and a guide member for the line on the hook side of the coupling rigidly fastened to and spaced from the supporting device and adapted to serveas a guide for the reciprocating line and as a safety stop for said abutment.

7. In a mechanism of the type described, safety coupling means in a reciprocating power line comprising a hook member and an eye member, an abutment on the hook side of said line, the said hook being pivoted to said abutment, a stationary supporting device, a manually operable blocking means movable in said supporting device into the path of said abutment for taking the load on the hook side of the line and relieving the tension on the coupling members, means manually operable, only when said tension is relieved, to pivot the hook from its position of engagement with the eye member, and an adjustable plate member, having an opening therein,

rigidly fastened to and spaced from the sup-V porting device and adapted to have the reciprocating line on the hook side of the coupling threaded through the opening in said plate member, said opening being smaller than the axial cross-section of said abutment whereby the plate member will serve as a guide for the line and as a safety stop for said abutment.

8. A safety coupling structure for use in a reciprocating power line comprising, cooperating coupling members in the line, a stationary frame, blocking means in said frame adapted to block the reciprocal movement of one of said coupling members, a cam member adapted to operatively engage one of said coupling members, and manually operable means operably connected with said blocking means and said cam member and movable to one position to shift said blocking means to blocking position and thereby remove the strain from the coupling members, and movable to a second position to actuate said cam member to shift one of the coupling members out of coupling relation with the other coupling member.

LAWRENCE J EFFERSON MCKINNEY. CHRISTIAN WINTHER JENSEN. 

